Facilitating text entry for mobile healthcare application

ABSTRACT

A method for facilitating entry of items for a healthcare software application loaded on an electronic device includes displaying, to a healthcare practitioner via a display of a mobile electronic device, an interface of a healthcare software application including a text entry box and a virtual keyboard; receiving, from the healthcare practitioner via the virtual keyboard, first input corresponding to entry of a first text string; continuously, during entry of the first text string, comparing input characters to a maintained list of items associated with healthcare, and displaying a popover including items found to match, based on the comparing, input characters; receiving, from the healthcare practitioner, second input corresponding to selection of a particular item displayed in the popover; and inserting, into the text entry box based on the received second input, a text string corresponding to the selected particular item.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and othercountries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all othercopyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to facilitating text entry forhealthcare software applications.

Frequently, when using software for mobile devices, a user can eitherenter free text into a data entry field, or choose an item from a list.In cases where both list selection and free text are available, a useris typically forced to switch between the two in order to complete atask.

A need exists for improvement in software for mobile devices. This needand other needs are addressed by one or more aspects of the presentinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes many aspects and features. Moreover,while many aspects and features relate to, and are described inparticular context, the present invention is not limited to use only inthis context, as will become apparent from the following summaries anddetailed descriptions of aspects, features, and one or more embodimentsof the present invention.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to a method forfacilitating entry of items for a healthcare software application loadedon an electronic device, the method comprising displaying, to ahealthcare practitioner via a display of a mobile electronic device, aninterface of a healthcare software application including a text entrybox and a virtual keyboard; receiving, from the healthcare practitionervia the virtual keyboard, first input corresponding to entry of a firsttext string; continuously, during entry of the first text string,comparing input characters to a maintained list of items associated withhealthcare, and displaying a popover including items found to match,based on the comparing, input characters; receiving, from the healthcarepractitioner, second input corresponding to selection of a particularitem displayed in the popover; and inserting, into the text entry boxbased on the received second input, a text string corresponding to theselected particular item.

In a feature of this aspect, the mobile electronic device comprises aphone.

In a feature of this aspect, the mobile electronic device comprises atablet.

In a feature of this aspect, the display comprises a touchscreen.

In a feature of this aspect, the healthcare practitioner comprises anurse.

In a feature of this aspect, the healthcare practitioner comprises adoctor.

In a feature of this aspect, the maintained list of items is maintainedat the mobile electronic device.

In a feature of this aspect, the maintained list of items is maintainedat a remote server.

In a feature of this aspect, the maintained list of items is maintainedin a database.

Another aspect relates to a method for facilitating entry of items for ahealthcare software application loaded on an electronic device, themethod comprising displaying, to a healthcare practitioner via a displayof a mobile electronic device, an interface of a healthcare softwareapplication including a text entry box and a virtual keyboard;receiving, from the healthcare practitioner via the virtual keyboard,first input corresponding to entry of a first text string; continuously,during entry of the first text string, comparing input characters to amaintained list of items associated with healthcare, and displaying apopover including items found to match, based on the comparing, inputcharacters; receiving, from the healthcare practitioner, second inputcorresponding to selection of a particular item displayed in thepopover; inserting, into the text entry box based on the received secondinput, a text string corresponding to the selected particular item; andupdating, based on the received second input, a favorites list ofpreviously selected items.

Another aspect relates to a method for facilitating entry of items for ahealthcare software application loaded on an electronic device, themethod comprising displaying, to a healthcare practitioner via a displayof a mobile electronic device, an interface of a healthcare softwareapplication including a text entry box and a virtual keyboard;receiving, from the healthcare practitioner via the virtual keyboard,first input corresponding to entry of a first text string; continuously,during entry of the first text string, comparing input characters to amaintained list of items associated with healthcare, and displaying apopover including items found to match, based on the comparing, inputcharacters; receiving, from the healthcare practitioner, second inputcorresponding to selection of a particular item displayed in thepopover; inserting, into the text entry box based on the received secondinput, a text string corresponding to the selected particular item;updating, based on the received second input, a favorites list ofpreviously selected items; displaying, to the healthcare practitionervia the display of the mobile electronic device, an interface of ahealthcare software application including a second text entry box and avirtual keyboard; receiving, from the healthcare practitioner via thevirtual keyboard, third input corresponding to entry of a second textstring; continuously, during entry of the second text string, comparinginput characters to a maintained list of items associated withhealthcare, and displaying a second popover including items found tomatch, based on the comparing, input characters, the second popoverincluding one or more items in the favorites list displayed at a top ofthe second popover; receiving, from the healthcare practitioner, fourthinput corresponding to selection of a second particular item displayedin the second popover; inserting, into the second text entry box basedon the received fourth input, a text string corresponding to theselected second particular item; and updating, based on the receivedfourth input, the favorites list.

In addition to the aforementioned aspects and features of the presentinvention, it should be noted that the present invention furtherencompasses the various possible combinations and subcombinations ofsuch aspects and features. Thus, for example, any aspect may be combinedwith an aforementioned feature in accordance with the present inventionwithout requiring any other aspect or feature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more preferred embodiments of the present invention now will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereinthe same elements are referred to with the same reference numerals, andwherein,

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an exemplary interface of a healthcare softwareapplication loaded on a tablet;

FIG. 3 illustrates display of an item on a favorites list ahead of otheritems in a popover; and

FIG. 4 illustrates entry of text into a text box following selection ofan item from a popover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one havingordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the presentinvention has broad utility and application. As should be understood,any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of theabove-disclosed aspects of the invention and may further incorporateonly one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore,any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” isconsidered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out thepresent invention. Other embodiments also may be discussed foradditional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enablingdisclosure of the present invention. As should be understood, anyembodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of theabove-disclosed aspects of the invention and may further incorporateonly one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Moreover, manyembodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, andequivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodimentsdescribed herein and fall within the scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein in detailin relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present invention, andis made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enablingdisclosure of the present invention. The detailed disclosure herein ofone or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, tolimit the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention inany claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined bythe claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that thescope of patent protection afforded the present invention be defined byreading into any claim a limitation found herein that does notexplicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps ofvarious processes or methods that are described herein are illustrativeand not restrictive.

Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of variousprocesses or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequenceor temporal order, the steps of any such processes or methods are notlimited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absentan indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methodsgenerally may be carried out in various different sequences and orderswhile still falling within the scope of the present invention.Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection affordedthe present invention is to be defined by the issued claim(s) ratherthan the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refersto that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to meanbased on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that themeaning of a term used herein—as understood by the Ordinary Artisanbased on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from anyparticular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that themeaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan shouldprevail.

Regarding applicability of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6, no claim element isintended to be read in accordance with this statutory provision unlessthe explicit phrase “means for” or “step for” is actually used in suchclaim element, whereupon this statutory provision is intended to applyin the interpretation of such claim element.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an”each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a pluralityunless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to “apicnic basket having an apple” describes “a picnic basket having atleast one apple” as well as “a picnic basket having apples.” Incontrast, reference to “a picnic basket having a single apple” describes“a picnic basket having only one apple.”

When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one ofthe items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus,reference to “a picnic basket having cheese or crackers” describes “apicnic basket having cheese without crackers”, “a picnic basket havingcrackers without cheese”, and “a picnic basket having both cheese andcrackers.” Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and”denotes “all of the items of the list.” Thus, reference to “a picnicbasket having cheese and crackers” describes “a picnic basket havingcheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers,” as well asdescribes “a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basketfurther has cheese.”

Referring now to the drawings, one or more preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are next described. The following description of oneor more preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in noway intended to limit the invention, its implementations, or uses.

In accordance with one or more preferred implementations, a healthcaresoftware application loaded on a mobile device is configured to allow auser to input free text into a text box and provide a pop up includingitems in a list partly matching an input string.

For example, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary interface of a healthcaresoftware application loaded on a tablet where a user has input thestring “ACE” into a text box and the software pops up a potentialmatching result of “ACE Bandages (sterile)” for potential selection bythe user to speed up entry of that item. Preferably, the user can simplytouch the “ACE Bandages (sterile)” result to have the result completedin the text box, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In one or more preferredimplementations, the system further inserts a divider (such as a comma)and a space following the item, allowing the user to begin entering anext item in the list.

In one or more preferred implementations, when a user begins to entertext, the text string input is continuously compared against amaintained list of strings to determine whether any of the maintainedstrings match the input string. The matching strings are preferablydisplayed in a popover, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In one or morepreferred implementations, a list of strings is stored remotely at aserver or database (although in at least some implementations a list maybe stored locally) and retrieved for comparison. Such comparison mayoccur locally at a mobile electronic device, or remotely at a server.

In one or more preferred implementations, an item added via autofillfrom a popover is displayed in a different color or in italics, asillustrated in FIG. 2. Preferably, a user can tap on an item added via apopover and a popover will be displayed showing other items that aresimilar to the selected item.

In one or more preferred implementations, such a popover will furtherallow a user to delete the item inserted via a popover. Additionally oralternatively, in one or more preferred implementations, a user candelete an autofilled item using a backspace button (e.g. on a virtualkeyboard). Preferably, text will change from blue or italics back tonormal when a letter is deleted.

In one or more preferred implementations, if a user selects an item viaa popover, that item is subsequently stored in a short list or favoriteslist. This favorites list can be updated as items are selected. Such afavorites list is preferably dynamically updated based on how many timesa user has chosen a particular item. In one or more preferredimplementations, items from such a favorites list are shown beforeresults from an entire list, as illustrated in FIG. 3, where “ACEBandages (sterile)” is shown ahead of other items on the list because itwas previously selected by the user.

After selecting an item from the popover, the user can continue typingand can manually enter items that do not match a stored list, asillustrated in FIG. 4.

In one or more preferred implementations, a user can specify a list ofitems to be accessed during text entry.

Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily understood bythose persons skilled in the art that the present invention issusceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments andadaptations of the present invention other than those specificallydescribed herein, as well as many variations, modifications, andequivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggestedby the present invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, withoutdeparting from the substance or scope of the present invention.Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein indetail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary ofthe present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing afull and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosureis not intended to be construed to limit the present invention orotherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations,modifications or equivalent arrangements, the present invention beinglimited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for facilitating entry of items for ahealthcare software application loaded on an electronic device, themethod comprising: generating, via a display of a mobile electronicdevice, an interface of a healthcare software application including atext entry box and a virtual key board; receiving, via the virtualkeyboard, first input corresponding to entry of a first text string;continuously, during entry of the first text string, (i) comparing inputcharacters to a maintained list of items associated with healthcare andto a favorites list, of previously selected items and (ii) generating apopover including items found to match, based on the comparing of inputcharacters and favorites list; receiving a second input corresponding toselection of a particular item displayed in the popover; inserting, intothe text entry box based on the received second input, a text stringcorresponding to the selected particular item, generating a secondpopover indicating other items that are similar to the inserted textstring; receiving a third input corresponding to selection of one of theother items that are similar to the inserted text string; and updating,based on the received second input, the favorites list for futurecomparison.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile electronicdevice comprises a phone.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobileelectronic device comprises a tablet.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe display comprises a touchscreen.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe maintained list of items is maintained at the mobile electronicdevice.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the maintained list of itemsis maintained at a remote server.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein themaintained list of items is maintained in a database.